By Jed Lanyon
Tarrawarra resident Jacqui Feagan has taken out a multitude of cattle breeding awards at this year’s Royal Melbourne Show.
Ms Feagan of Tarrawarra Lowlines took out the supreme champion Australian lowline exhibit and best lowline exhibitors award, as well as grand champion male, female and junior champion heifer.
“All the animals we took were broad ribbon winners, it was pretty exciting” Ms Feagan said.
“We also won the size progeny class and the group class. We didn’t have a senior bull there but in every other area we cleaned up.
“You don’t go with any expectations, so then you can’t be disappointed… But it was fantastic, it was almost embarrassing.”
Ms Feagan joked that she would need a truck to bring home all of the ribbons and trophies she accumulated from the show.
Tarrawarra Lowlines was one of 590 beef cattle entries in this year’s Royal Melbourne Show.
Ms Feagan said it takes a lot of hard work to prepare her cattle for a show and that she would be feeding, grooming, washing and training them for up to 12 weeks prior to an event.
“It’s a lot of work washing them, blowing their coats several times a week in preparation for them to go to a show.
“They’ve got to be trained to stand up and to show themselves and to lead.”
Ms Feagan said it wasn’t possible without the help of her husband Richard, as well as Colin Kirkpatrick and Eva Murphy.
She said the greatest reward were comments from Australian lowline judge Tom Isedale, who said they had a strong future for their breeding program.
“It gives us confidence that we’re heading in the right direction with our beef cattle,” she said.
Mr Isedale was impressed with Faith, the cow awarded as supreme champion Australian lowline, and her calf Tank.
“I love the body… the udder on her and the calf behind her is only three months of age and that’s an absolutely outstanding calf, a calf that’s going to have a big future and that’s what we like to see, cows that can produce equal to or better than themselves,” he said.
Tarrawarra Lowlines do direct beef sales to the public, for more information about Tarrawarra Lowlines, visit https://www.tarrawarralowlines.com/.
